In vitro induction of further development of sporocysts of the crayfish parasite Porospermium haeckeli
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Abstract
Psorospermium haeckeli, an ubiquitous parasite of freshwater crayfish belonging to the novel DRIPs clade, is mainly found in the host's connective tissue as immobile sporocyst of ca. 100 µm in length. These sporocysts were repeatedly shown to develop from small histozoic amoeboids of approximately 10 µm. We have now obtained further life stages of P. haeckeli in vitro by incubating infected connective tissue of the noble crayfish Astacus astacus in tap water without aeration for several weeks. Incubation for 1-3 weeks induced hatching of a spore receptacle from the sporocyst followed by rupture of the receptacle and release of spores. These spores then transformed into slowly moving amoeboids of ca. 10 µm. Another 2-3 weeks later many amoeboids were found in various stages of encystation. Incubation of sporocysts in insect cell culture medium or gastric fluid of crayfish did not induce further development. The in vitro methodology applied in this study and the life stages of P. haeckeli obtained are compared to in vitro findings on other DRIPs species in order to give research on Psorospermium new impetus.
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Vogt G. (1999). In vitro induction of further development of sporocysts of the crayfish parasite Porospermium haeckeli. Freshwater Crayfish 12(1):319-334. doi:
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